trscavo's Journal

Alburgh Black Spruce-Tamarack Bog was briefly described by Hub Vogelmann in part 1 of Natural areas of Vermont in 1964. At the time, the area was privately owned. Today, the bog is part of Alburgh Dunes State Park located on the southern end of the Alburgh peninsula. The official brochure says: "The wetland behind the beach includes the largest black spruce bog in Grand Isle County. Black spruce swamps and bogs are more typical of colder, northern climates than of the Champlain Valley, which is Vermont's warmest area. Core samples from the bog reveal peat to depths of more than 8 meters (26 feet). From these samples comes a record of climate and vegetation dating back to the ice age".

I visited Alburgh Dunes State Park on Oct 11, 2021, and again on Sep 30, 2024. Much of the area is impenetrable wetland but the northernmost portion of the park (along Vermont Route 129) includes a mature bog with large shrubs and trees. As the canopy continues to close, I expect the sun-loving herbaceous plants in that bog to dwindle.

My observations at Alburgh Dunes State Park:

• Observations on Sep 30, 2024 (in progress)
• Observations on Oct 11, 2021

Comments welcome!

The State of Vermont is considering whether to add yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) to its list of Designated Noxious Weeds. As a noxious weed, the distribution and sale of yellow archangel would be regulated, which is probably a good thing since the plant has the potential to become a serious problem in Vermont. It is already listed as a noxious weed in Washington and Oregon.

Lamium galeobdolon sensu lato is native across Europe, western Asia, and portions of the Middle East. Lamium galeobdolon subsp. argentatum, known as the variegated yellow archangel, has been well documented as an invasive subspecies in several European countries where it outcompetes the native subspecies galeobdolon. Yellow archangel has been introduced into North America but the subspecies is unknown. In Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, the invasive entity is listed as Lamiastrum galeobdolon. If Vermont chooses to list this taxon, the following name is recommended:

• Common name: yellow archangel
• Scientific name: Lamium galeobdolon
• Synonym: Lamiastrum galeobdolon

The name Lamium galeobdolon is here used as the name of a (sub)species complex that includes all yellow-flowered taxa in genus Lamium (including Lamium galeobdolon subsp. flavidum, which is thought to be noninvasive).

All sources have been documented in Wikipedia at the link below.

Further reading

• Lamium galeobdolon (Wikipedia)
• Variegated Yellow Archangel (iNaturalist)
• Yellow Archangel in New England (iNaturalist)
• Observations of Lamium galeobdolon in Vermont (iNaturalist)